Research and Practice in Non-Western Cultures

Reviews the current ethnocentric approach in mental health research and practice and presents issues that need to be considered for non-Western cultures. The book describes the development of Western paradigms in mental health, their implicit application to non-Western cultures, and the need for developing a less ethnocentric paradigm.

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Research and Practice in Non-Western Cultures: The Need for a Paradigm Shift in Mental Health reviews the current ethnocentric approach in mental health research and practice and presents issues that need to be considered for non-Western cultures.

The book is organized into three sections that progressively describe the development of Western paradigms in mental health, their implicit application to non-Western cultures, and the need for developing a less ethnocentric paradigm. The first section provides readers with a greater understanding of how ethnocentrism has become so embedded in Western and non-Western mental health, as well as an overview of Western psychological perspectives. The second section details current issues in the implementation of Western approaches to research and practice, including the issues of research bias and the relevance of Western practice models. The final section looks to the future and introduces community-based research and practice as an example of an alternative approach that could be adopted in a paradigm shift.

Research and Practice in Non-Western Cultures is ideal for undergraduate and graduate-level global mental health, diversity, and cultural clinical psychology courses. It is part of the Cognella Series on Advances in Culture, Race, and Ethnicity. The series, co-sponsored by Division 45 of the American Psychological Association, addresses critical and emerging issues within culture, race, and ethnic studies, as well as specific topics among various ethnocultural groups.